Why Are There So Few Women in the Corner Office?
"Is Shaun Haney unknowingly biased? Why is agriculture so very short on good people to fill jobs — from the farm level to the corporate office?
Portia MacDonald-Dewhirst joins (the possibly-biased) Haney to talk about recent research by the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council that outlined the huge personnel gap in farming and agriculture processing..." (click for more)

Forget Balance! Work at Core Values & Embrace the Overlap
— Amy Cronin
Yes you can have a very busy, multi-faceted farm and farm leadership career AND spend time on yourself and with your kids, but forget about trying to put it all “in balance” all the time. That’s according to Amy Cronin, president of Cronin Farms, chair of Ontario Pork, and mother of six..." (click for more)

Envisioning The Future of Farming and Food — Deb Stark
"There are so many moving parts in the agriculture industry — shifting food trends eventually are mirrored in production changes, and evolving markets and economics drive policy changes..." (click for more)

Networking is About Being Authentic and Making Connections – Marie-Helene Budworth
"Are you good at networking? Or are you more likely to wonder why, as a farmer or rancher, you even need to? Perhaps you think networking is for salespeople, lawyers, and business big-wigs. According to our interview with Marie-Helene Budworth networking is for anyone engaged in business, and you’re probably much better at it than you think..." (click for more)

Procrastinating on Purpose to Be More Productive — Rory Vaden
November 7, 2016 - "I have a fatal productivity flaw in my life. I procrastinate on many tasks in my daily agenda. I have no idea why. Personally I hate it. People around me tend to hate it as well and I constantly try to fix the tendency. It’s not an easy habit to drop..." (click for more)

Building up your personal brand to help your farm
November 6, 2016 - "Katherine Surgenor is a Senior Partner with Ogilvy and Mather based in Toronto. She emphasizes personal branding is the key to rising above the fray and standing out..." (click for more)

Happy for No Reason — Switching Our Brains to Think Positively – Real Agriculture
"Are you regularly grumpy? Do you know someone that’s happy all the time and wonder, what is wrong with him? Is he/she just way too happy? Recently, at the Advancing Women Conference in Toronto, I chatted with New York Times best-selling author, Marci Shimoff..." (click for more!)

The Joy and Challenges of Running a Family Dairy Farm:
Cynthia Crowley – Real Agriculture
Cynthia and I discuss Crovalley Holsteins, how they involve multiple generations in business decisions, trade, the future of supply management and achieving work life balance..." (click for more!)

Advancing Women Wednesday - Natasha Vandenhurk
September 14, 2016

This week #AdvancingWomenWednesday presents Natasha Vandenhurk, CEO of Three Farmers Products who shares her story of initiating a successful startup business while growing a family!

AWC "Building Networks" - Eastern Ontario AgriNews
September 9, 2016

This is what the AWC is all about. Building networks, exchanging ideas and learning to appreciate all of the aspects in which women in agriculture are involved...

Read the article at Eastern Ontario AgriNews

Advancing Women Wednesday - Bonnie Dupont
September 7, 2016

This week #AdvancingWomenWednesday presents Bonnie Dupont who shares her strategies for moving out of your comfort zone and success strategies in order to achieve your goals.

Advancing Women Wednesday - Sandy Hansen-Wolff
August 31, 2016

This week #AdvancingWomenWednesday presents Sandy Hansen-Wolff, President and Owner of AgVenture Feed & Seed Inc. on how to persevere through hardship and embrace adversity.

4-H Alumni Reconnect!
August 25, 2016

Come and enjoy a light lunch while networking and connecting at the 4-H Ontario Alumni & Friends Networking Event during the AWC EAST 2016 Conference at the Fairmont Hotel on October 3, 2016 at 11:30 am. Visit http://4-hontario.ca/alumni-events.aspx for details. RSVP by email to: alumni@4-hontario.ca by September 16, 2016




Advancing Women Wednesday - Alanna Koch
August 24, 2016

This week #AdvancingWomenWednesday presents Deputy Minister to the Premier of Saskatchewan Alanna Koch who shares her top six leadership tips.

Attention Delegates: Rooms still available at the Fairmont
August 22, 2016

Hotel rooms are still available at the host hotel for Advancing Women East 2016! Rooms are over 80% sold so act fast to stay at Advancing Women's host hotel, The Fairmont Royal York in Downtown Toronto, Ontario during the conference on October 3rd and 4th.

FAIRMONT ROYAL YORK - Book your room today online!
 
Click the link above or call 1-866-540-4489 or 416-368-2511 and speak to a reservations agent to get the special AWC conference rate of $249.00 per night plus taxes. Please reference the group name “Advancing Women Conference” or the group code “AWC2016” in order to get the special group rate when calling in.

If you plan to stay - book your room today!

Advancing Women Wednesday - Liana Robberecht
August 17, 2016

This week #AdvancingWomenWednesday presents Liana Robberecht, Executive Chef at Winsport Winter Sport Institute in Calgary who shares her ingredients for success.

Advancing Women Wednesday - Gwen Paddock
August 10, 2016

This week #AdvancingWomenWednesday presents Gwen Paddock, National Manager of Agriculture and Agribusiness, Client and Business Strategy for RBC Royal Bank discusses the female financial paradox and how women can leverage their finances towards a brighter future.

Women in agriculture speak to the benefits of attending our conference
August 3, 2016

Rural Roots Canada interviews two delegates from our recent Advancing Women Conference. Listen as they share their thoughts on the importance of the conference for women looking for an opportunity to learn from and connect with others in the agriculture industry, and why this conference can make a difference in the lives and careers of women in agriculture.

Advancing Women Wednesday - Margaret Hudson
August 3, 2016

This week #AdvancingWomenWednesday presents Margaret Hudson, Executive President of Burnbrae Farms who shares her story of taking over her family's egg business and what she has learned along the way.

Advancing Women Wednesday - Dianna Emperingham
July 27, 2016

This week #AdvancingWomenWednesday presents Dianna Emperingham, Director of Product Supply at Bayer CropScience Inc. who shares her story of leading in a non-traditional role.

Advancing Women Wednesday - Angela Santiago
June 22, 2016

For this week's #AdvancingWomenWednesday Angela Santiago, CEO of The Little Potato Company shares the key impactful events that helped shape her into the leader she is today.



Every Wednesday from now until Advancing Women East 2016 on October 3rd & 4th we're going to be releasing a video from some of our amazing past speakers! Check back each week for a new video.

Next week: Fran Burr shares why she's so optimistic about the future of women in agriculture.

Announcing Advancing Women Wednesday! Every Wednesday we're going to be releasing a video of a past AWC speaker!
June 15, 2016

For those of you who want a refresher of the presentation can view it at your leisure, and those of you who did not attend AWC- this is your chance to listen and learn, and realize the value that the next AWC can bring to you. In this powerful speech from Advancing Women's inaugural conference in April 2014, Linda Hohol shares lessons she learned as she rose in her career and gives her perspective on the leadership roles women can excel at.

Check back each week for a new video. Next week: Angela Santiago, CEO of The Little Potato Company on "How to Raise a CEO".

AWC Speaker gets a great profile in Canadian Living – Elysia Vandenhurk, Three Farmers
June 6, 2016

Download Article Snippet (.pdf)

Pre-Conference Workshops – New to AWC EAST 2016
May 31, 2016

Last year many AWC EAST delegates asked for more time to network and specific topic sessions. So we listened and have created 2 pre-conference workshops. If you want to network or find a coach or mentor sign up for the "Speed networking and mentoring workshop". If you are a producer, and want to learn how to have a better relationship with your banker, the financial workshop is for you!

Date: Monday October 3, 2016 from 10:00am - 11:15am

1. Financial workshop for producers presented by BMO
   OR
2. Speed networking and mentoring - NOW FULL!
   The networking workshop is now full but you can still register to attend the financial workshop.

Registration for the workshop can be done at the same time as your conference registration. Seating will be limited and you will be notified if the workshop is full. You must be registered for the full conference to be eligible to attend the workshop.

Ladies! Plan to attend AWC EAST 2016 and let NORWELL help get you there!
May 27, 2016

Download the details here.

Congratulations to Three Farmers for their 2016 new product award!
May 20, 2016

Just announced last night was the news that the Three Farmers Roasted Chickpeas product won the 2016 Saskatoon Awards for Business Excellence (SABEX) in the 'New Product' category!

Congratulations to past AWC speakers Natasha and Elysia Vandenhurk for their win! The SABEX winners are decided by a panel of anonymous judges, and (according to the SABEX website) celebrate Saskatoon and region organizations that have "raised the standards for the community, industry at large and even the world in the quality of their products, services and economic and community contributions".

AWC delegates will get to hear from Red Seal chef and COO Elysia Vandenhurk at our upcoming Toronto conference on October 3 & 4, 2016!

Sponsors and students come together to advance future leaders in agriculture

The Advancing Women Conference is currently seeking companies, individuals or organizations to sponsor agriculture students to attend our conference in Toronto on October 3 & 4, 2016.

Sponsors pay for one (or several) registrations for women in agricultural studies. This is an amazing opportunity to make an impact in a young woman's life, and to help future women leaders step into their roles as influential drivers of change and advancement for our industry.

We've received several moving applications from students already. Watch the videos below and get inspired! See what attending this conference will mean to young women in our industry. To become a sponsor for an agricultural student, email us today: events@irismeck.com

If you are a women studying agriculture in a Canadian university or college, and wish to apply, email us for the application details: events@irismeck.com

"I think AWC would help me gain some practical tools and information as well as the confidence to use them to become a positive role model to other motivated young women, helping to inspire and empower them to work on solutions to issues in agriculture."
– Jaclyn Clark, Masters of Science in Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph

"Where are our positive role models? Young women in agriculture? The Advancing Women Conference would be an amazing way to share my passion and experiences in agriculture and be inspired by the stories of women across the country."
– Carolyn Wilson, currently enrolled in a Masters of Science and Agriculture at Dalhousie University

"I would like to attend the Advancing Women Conference because I see it as an excellent chance to network with other female researchers, producers and industry experts. This conference will help me broaden my scope of understanding of the various Canadian agriculture industries and help connect me to people who can help me further my career goals."
– Rachael Coon, Masters student studying dairy cattle welfare at the University of Guelph

"In attending the Advancing Women Conference, I hope to improve my communication and leadership skills, and to be inspired by other females in the agricultural sector."
– Sara Stricker, completing a Masters degree in Environmental Sciences at the University of Guelph

"I realized I haven't had many female role models in the realm of agriculture. It's difficult to see myself in that role if I don't have any role models…which is one of the reasons I would love to attend this conference."
– Tori Ames, Organic Farmer, completed 1st year of Farm Management and Technology Program, McGill University

"My hope through attending this conference is to network and to get to know individuals that are in agriculture, and that are passionate about agriculture like I am … and to hopefully get some ideas and gain some perspective about how I can best contribute to this field."
– Emily Davis, finishing Bachelor Science in Agriculture, Dalhousie University in Truro, Nova Scotia; beginning Masters of Environmental Studies

Advancing Women Conference is now registered with the Farm Business Development Initiative in Saskatchewan
April 28, 2016

We are proud to announce that Advancing Women Conference is now registered with the Farm Business Development Initiative in Saskatchewan. This means that Saskatchewan farm women may be eligible for a reimbursement of up to 75% of the AWC registration fee by contacting FBDI at 306-946-3214. For more information please visit fbdi.gov.sk.ca

The Western Producer - Interview with Iris Meck: Women share challenges, triumphs
April 19, 2016

Read the Article at Producer.com

AWC: A 'celebration' of women in agriculture.
April 13, 2016

Read the Article at Alberta Farmer

Don't miss it: Rural Roots coverage of Advancing Women Conference West, a powerful force for growth…
April 6, 2016

WATCH PART ONE NOW



WATCH PART TWO NOW